Method and system for using Wi-Fi location data for location based rewards

Abstract

Providing a purchase incentive to a mobile device based for example the user's location, predicted route of travel, and prior transactions. A tracking server computer determines a number of locations of a mobile device as it travels along a route and an associated timeframe when it is at each of the locations. The tracking server computer records the locations and associated timeframes in a location log and analyzes the location log to predict a subsequent location and associated timeframe that the mobile device will be at that location. The tracking server computer then determines a merchant proximate to the predicted subsequent location of the mobile device and generates a purchase incentive for use at the merchant and delivers the purchase incentive to the mobile device. In the alternative, the incentive may be generated by a merchant computer or the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of a mobile device generating a reward comprising:
 a mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot; 
 the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot; 
 the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log on the mobile device; 
 the mobile device analyzing a transaction log stored on the mobile device, the transaction log comprising a plurality of records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; 
 the mobile device automatically generating a reward as a function of the location of the mobile device, a plurality of prior locations stored in the location log of the mobile device, and prior transactions executed by the mobile device and stored in the transaction log of the mobile device; and 
 the mobile device displaying the reward on a display screen. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of the mobile device generating a notification of the reward. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the reward comprises a purchase incentive for use at a merchant at the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device automatically generates a reward on the occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein the triggering event comprises a user request. 
     
     
       7. A mobile device comprising wireless communications circuitry, processing circuitry, a display screen, and a memory, wherein the processing circuitry is programmed to execute an application on the mobile device which performs the steps of:
 the mobile device communicating via a wi-fi hot spot; 
 the mobile device determining its location by analyzing data from the wi-fi hot spot; 
 the mobile device recording its location and associated timeframe in a location log on the mobile device; 
 the mobile device analyzing a transaction log stored on the mobile device, the transaction log comprising a plurality of records of prior transactions executed by the mobile device; 
 the mobile device automatically generating a reward as a function of the location of the mobile device, a plurality of prior locations stored in the location log of the mobile device, and prior transactions executed by the mobile device and stored in the transaction log of the mobile device; and 
 the mobile device displaying the reward on the display screen. 
 
     
     
       8. The mobile device of  claim 7  wherein the application is further programmed to perform the step of the mobile device generating a notification of the reward. 
     
     
       9. The mobile device of  claim 7  wherein the reward comprises a purchase incentive for use at a merchant at the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
       10. The mobile device of  claim 7  wherein the mobile device automatically generates a reward on the occurrence of a triggering event. 
     
     
       11. The mobile device of  claim 10  wherein the triggering event comprises a predetermined condition. 
     
     
       12. The mobile device of  claim 10  wherein the triggering event comprises a user request.